FOSTORIA (AP) — The former publisher of a newspaper in northwestern Ohio has died.

Clarence Pennington led The Review Times in Fostoria from 1980 to 1998.

A funeral home in Heath, where Pennington lived, says he died Friday in Columbus from complications after bypass surgery. He was 88.

Pennington was president, publisher and editor of The Review Times for 18 years until it was sold in 1998 to the Findlay Publishing Co., owner of The Courier.

He was dedicated to improving access to public records in Ohio. The Associated Press Managing Editors Association awarded the newspaper its Freedom of Information Award in 1988 for its pursuit of public records at hospitals.

Pennington started his newspaper career at The Ironton Tribune and later moved to The Advocate in Newark where he rose to vice president and general manager.